Apparatus for wrapping of blockshaped articles



June 22, 1948. i A. @ALBERT #2,443,952

APPARATUS FOWRAPPING olf" BLOCK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 21, 1945 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gv CTIQRNEYSA June 22, 1948. J. A. GILBERT 2,443,952

FPARATUS FOR WRAPPING 0F BLOCK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Fb. 21, 1945 4 sheets-sneu 2 June 221'948. .1.A. GILBERT 2,443,952

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING 0F BLOCK-SHAPED ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21,` 1945 FIGS;

VENTORZ 91A GILBERT. TORNEYS June 22, 1948. J. A. GILBERT APPARATUS FOR WRPPING OF BLOCK-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 21, 1945 FIG.6.

INVENTORI BYJAGILBERT. TTORN E Ys Patented June 22, 1948 APPARATUS f si anlassz Fon WRAPPING or BLocK- SI-IAPED ARTICLES J oseph" ArthurA Gilbert, Gainsborough, England, assignor `to Rosell Brothers (Gainsborough) Limited, Gainsborough, England, a British .companys I l.

minne-anti; fretreaty` 21, 1945, serial No. 579,007 In GreatBritan February 26, 1944 I- I This invention relates to the wrapping vof block-shaped articles, i. `e., articles `having a rectangular cross-section. Examples,l of such articles are blocks of chocolate, packets of cigaf; rettes, blocks of icecream that have been treated to render them sufficiently hard for wrapping-purposes and other articles of similar shape e The invention is concernedwitha newor ,lm proved method of Wrappingf and VwithV apparatus for carrying out such method. a

Accordingto the inventionV there is provided a method of wrapping block-1shapedarticles,` con prising continuously feeding a spaced succession of articles in timed relation to thevfeeding of a succession of wrappers in a -directionltransverse to that of movement of the articles-sothat the forward end of each articleinturn` engagesa wrapper and by further Vforward movement incooperation withv folding `elements causes fthe Y 1,4 'ciama (or els-7) for movement in a direction transverse to that of movement Vof the articles .onlthe conveyon. said folding member co-operating with further folding elements to complete the folding of the wrappers about each articlein the 'form of a tube andthn to fold extending portionsof 'the wall of the tube onto the ends ofthe article to complete `the wrapping of the article.' e The invention -also includes apparatus .Ifor wrapping block-shaped-articles, 'comprisingjan endlessv conveyor `provided with" spaced feeding elements adapted to forward the articles in con.- tinuous succession towards the `wrapping elements, means for feeding `a succession of wrappers, in timed relation to the movement ofthe feeding elements, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articlesinsuch a manner that each article in turnengages a," wrapf per, means .co-operating ywith" thedvaniig article fory folding the wrapper about" tl'i'eforward end and/the upper andlowersides ofthearrticle, a folding member arranged?? for movement in timed relation 'to the .conveyor-4 in 1 al transverse direction with respect to the .conveyr, saidlflding member being; provided.vvith: arseri of pc clets each :adapted inrturn ytofrrceiveanla'riticle fromgthe conveyor. `and-rmeans -cosperating2` with said folding member for completing the folding of the wrapper about each article in the form of a tube and then folding extending wall portions of the tube on to the ends of the article to complete the wrapping of the article.

The endless conveyor may be in the form of a pair of endless chains connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars, the pusher bars being provided With pushers which extend through a slot in an article-supporting platform and are arranged to engage the rear faces of the articles for the purpose of feeding them along the supporting platform.

The folding member -is conveniently in .the form of a rotatable pocket wheel having a series of pockets each adapted to receive a partially wrapped article from the conveyonthe pockets conveniently having one yieldable side for facilitating the entry and exit of the articles and the folding operations.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which- Figurey 1 is-an elevation, partly in section, show-` ing the salient features of a machine for Wrapping blocks of ice cream,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown-in Figure 1, drawn to a larger scale than Figuresy 1 and 2, and

Figures 4, 5, Gand 'l illustrate different stages in the Wrapping operation.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a succession of articles II (in this case blocks of ice cream that have been treated to render them sufficiently hard for wrapping purposes) are delivered to the machine by a belt conveyor I 2, the articles being arrested by a stop I3 operating in timed relation to the machine so as to allow each article to move forward as it is required by the machine. As the stop I3 is raised, the leading article II is gripped by a pair of `belts I4 and delivered to a supporting platform I6, the belts I4 being arranged to travel at a faster rate than the belt I2 so as to separate the leading article from the next succeeding one and allow the stop member I3 to be once more lowered into the path of the articles. As the article II is delivered by the belts M tothe p1at form I6, a reciprocating drag member Il is caused to move into engagement with the rear face of the article and drag it forward along the supporting platform I6 into the path of a feed conveyor consisting of a pair of chains I8 connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars I9 each provided with a pusher 2| extending through a slot 22 in the supporting platform I6 and varranged to engage the rear face of the article as it is delivered by the drag member I'I. The articles I I are thus fed along the supporting platform I5, between a pair of side guides 23, at spaced intervals.

Arranged above the conveyor is a pair of wrapper feed rollers 24 which withdraw a web 23 of wrapping material from a roll 2l rotatably,

mounted at 28 and feed it to a wrapper guideld which leads the web across the path of the articles Il, a slot 3l being providedY the platformV IS,

for this purpose. As the leading article. reaches the web 2S extending from the guide 29, a length of wrapper is severed from the web 25 by a pair of cutters 32 and is caused to foldround the forward end and the upper and lower surfaces of the article II by its advancing movementv in.

co-operation with upper and lower guides 33. The pushers 2i and the wrapping material are arranged to travel continuously so that there is no delay in the feeding of the Wrapperfor the next succeeding article, the leading article with its wrapper and the pusher moving clear of the wrapper guide 29' in sufcient time to allow the Web 26 of wrapping material to be fed again across the path of the articles before the next succeeding article reaches the wrapper. The

i timing of the conveyor and the wrapper feed is' As the leadingv article with its wrapper is.

pushed into the guides 33 by the pusher 2l, it is transferred from there to a pocket 34 of a pocket wheel 33 by a pair of transfer members 3'! arranged one on each side of the conveyor` and arranged to move synchronously into engagement with the rear face of the article and by. an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher 2l and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into the pocket 34. The transfer members 3T are each providedrwlth a positioning flange 38 arranged to engage the adjacent end face of the article so as to centralise the article during its transfer to the pocket 34. Thetransfer members Slare operated ina known manner by a pair of parallel motion linkages 39 and lll under the influence of an eccentric` l2 and a cam 43.

The pocket wheel 36 is mounted on ashaftV 44 and arranged to be driven intermittently intimed relation to the movement of the pushers 25| by a Geneva mechanism 4,5, of known construction, arranged to move'the pockets ltin turn to a series of stations. The pockets ilhave their trailing sides 46 formed on armsl pivotedajt 48 .and provided with cam rollers-i8 arranged to engage a stationary cam I. Springs 52;y are nrovided for urging the arms into closed position. lThe trailing sides. 4.6- of the pockets Stare thus yi'eldable and are positively opened by the cam` 5I at certain stations as will appear from later description.

After the article has been transferred to `the pocket 34 with its wrapper extending rearwardly from the upper surface of the article as explained n above, the pocket Wheel 3E is rotated through one eighth of a revolution to bring a further pocket to the article-receiving station where a further article is transferred to the pocket wheel as explained above. During such motion of the pocket wheel 3S, the trailing edge of the pocket (which was opened by the cam 5I as the pocket approached the article-receiving station for the purpose-fof facilitating the entry of the article) isclosed and the extending length of the Wrapper isfolded over the rear face of the article by engagement-with a stationary folding member 53.v The pocket. wheel is then turned through a further eighthof a revolution to bring the pocket 34 containing the leading article to a first folding station; during which movement the trailing side 46 is once more opened to facilitate the folding operation. At this stage, the portion of the wrapper still extending from the rear face oi the article is folded around the article into overlapping relationship with the opposing edgev of the wrapper by a tuckerblade 54 mounted on an arm 56 pivoted at 51 and arranged to be oscillated b y suitable mechanism in timed relation to the movement of the pocket wheel. The article is thus surrounded by the wrapper in the form of a tube having portions extending from each end of the article. The pocket'wheel 36 is then rotated through a further eighth of a revolution to carry the partially wrapped article to an end-folding station, and during suchv motion the trailing side of the pocket 34 is once more closed.

At the end-folding station, a pair of rotary folders 58-frst engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article .in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side'so as partially to form pairs of side flaps as illustrated-in Figures 4 and 5. As the rotary folders 58 are about to pass out of contact with the wrapper, a pair of first rotary side folders 59 move into contact with the partially formed side flaps on that side of the article and press them against the end ofthe articles to complete theirl formation. Theside folders 59 are articulated at 6I and each provided with a camroller 62 arranged to engage a stationary cam B3. which causes the tips of the folders to follow a path appropriate to the naturallines of vfolding of the side flaps (see-Figures 3 and 6). Asthe sideY folders 59 are about to. complete their folding movements` a pair of secondside folders e4 moveinto contact with the remaining partially formed side flaps and `press them against the, already folded side flaps, so that each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flap having; a.4 triangular portion extending from the artic7le in a transverse direction as shown in Figure F'or` clarity of illustration, the supporting bearingsfor the folders atv the end-folding station. as well as the driving mechanism therefor have notfbeen completely shown. It will be understood. however, thatthe various folders are driven in timed relationshipv to each oth'er and to the movement of the pocket wheel 36.

After the. formationk of the end flaps as described; above, the'pocket. wheel 36 makes a further;- eighthof. a revolution to carry the wrapped 5 article' to a 'delivery' station and during 'this movement the trailing side of the pocket is once more opened to facilitate ejection ofthe article. At the delivery station a pair of electing pushers 66 carried on a pair of continuously moving chains 6l operating in timed relationship to the movement of the pocket wheel 35 are moved into position Vbehind the article and eject it into a delivery channel 68.

69 into which the triangular portions of the end flaps pass during the ejection of the wrapped article from the pocket wheel, and during further movement of the wrapped article along the channel 6B `the curved slots 69 fold the triangular portions of the end flaps underneath the article to complete the wrapping. From the delivery channel the wrapped articles are conveyed by the4 pushers 65 to a collection station.

I claim: i

1. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles,` comprising an' endless conveyor provided with spaced feeding elements adapted to forward the articles in continuous succession towards the wrappingfelernents, means for feeding a succession of wrappers? in timed relation to the movement of the feeding elements ina direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper,` means co-op-erating with the advancing movement of the article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and `lower sides ofthe article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axisftransverseto that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with th'e movement thereof, said pocket wheel being 4provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, a pair of transfer members arranged one on each side of the conveyor and adapted during their transferring motion to move, in a path parallel to that of the articles, synchronously into .engagement with the rear face of each article in turn and by an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into a pocket of the pocket wheel, and a pair of positioning flanges formed one on each transfer member and each' arranged to engage an end face of the article so as to guide it in a lateral direction, and means co-operating with said pocket wheel for completing the folding of the wrapper about each article in the form of a tube and then folding extending wall portions of the tube on to the ends of-the article to complete the wrapping `of the article.

2. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped artcles, comprising a conveyor consisting of a pair of endless chains connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars provided with pushers `arranged to protrude through a longitudinal slot in an article-supporting platform extending between said chains, means for continuously driving said conveyor towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of articles on to said platform in timed relationship with the move-y ment 0f the pushers so that a continuous succession `of articles are fed towards th'e wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relation-ship with the movement of the pushers in a direction transverse to that of movement; thereof in such amanner that each article inturn :engages a wrapper, `means lcooperating; with fthe advancing articlel for. fol-ding The base of th'e delivery* channel G8 is formed with a pair of curved slotstoi 5 the wrapper about th'e forward end and the upper and lower'sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverseto Athat of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof,

said pocket wheel being provi-ded with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, a pair of transfer members arrangedone on each" side of the conveyor and adapted during their transferring motion to move, in a path parallel to that of the articles, synchronously into engagement with the rear face of each article in turn and by an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into a pocket of the pocket wheel, a pair of positioning flanges formed one on each transfer member and each arranged to engage an endface of the article so as to guide it in a lateral direction, and means co-operating with said pocket wheel for completing the folding of the wrapperaboutfeach articlein the form of a tube and then folding. extending wall portions of the tube on to th'c ends of the articles to cornplete the'wrapping of the article.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pockets of the pocket wheel each have one yieldable side for facilitating the entry and exit of the articles and thefolding operations.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pockets of the pocket wheel each have one yieldable side for facilitating the entry and exit of the articles and the folding operations.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means cooperating with the pocket wheel comprises rotary end folders adapted to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form` of a tube in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side soV as partially to form pairs of side flaps extending from theends of the article, and rotary side folders adapted to complete the formation ofthe side flaps by folding them successively` against the4 ends of the article in such 1 a mannerlthat each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flaphavinga triangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction. f u .1 i

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pocket wheel comprises rotary end folders adapted to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the endsof `the article in the form of a tube in such. a; manner as to press one side V thereof towards theopposing side so as partially to form pairs of side flaps extending from the ends of the article, androtary side folders adapted to complete `the formation of the side aps by folding them successively against the ends of the article" in such a :manner that each pair of side flaps `together constitute' anf 1 end` flap having a triangular portion vextending vfrom `the i article in a transverse direction. i f` i. i

7. 'Apparatusfor wrapping. block-shaped articles, comprising an endless `conveyor provided withspacedfeeding elements adapted to forward the articles in continuous succession towards the wrapping elements, means for; feeding a succession of wrappers in timed'relation to the movement of the feeding elements inl a direction transverse to the direction of `movement of the articles in such a manner that` each article in turn engages a-.wrapperg-means co-operating with `the advancing article. fori folding the wrapper about theforwardwend andthe upper Land lower sides ofuthel'articles',a .pocketwheel arrangedffor inter--` 7 mittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the articles in timed relationship with the movement' thereof, said pocket wheel being providedv with a series of pocketsv each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, rotary end folders in association with A said pocket wheel and arranged to engage the portions of the Wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form of a tube in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form pairs of side flaps extending from the ends of the articles, pairs of rotary side folders in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to complete the formation of the side aps by folding them successively against the ends of the article in such a manner that each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flap having aftriangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction, the first folder of each pair of side folders being articulated, and cam means for causing the tips of said rst folders to follow a path appropriate to the natural lines ofVV folding of the side flaps.

8. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor consisting cfa pair of endless chains connected at spacedintervals by pusher bars'provided with pushers arranged to protrude through a longitudinal slot in an article-supporting platform extending between said chains, means for continuously drivingsaid conveyor'towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of articles on to said platform in timedrelationship with the movement of the pushers so that a continuous succession of articles are fed towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of Wrappers in timed relationship with the movement of the pushers in a direction transverseto that of movement thereof in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means cooperating with the advancing movement of the article for. folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and loweri sides ofthe article, a pocket wheel arrangedfor intermittent rotation about an axisrtransverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of. pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor,

rotary end folders in association withi said pocket wheel and arranged to engag the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form of a tubeinsuch a manner as to press. oneA side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form, pairs of side naps extending fromthe'ends of the article, pairs of rotary side folders in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to complete the formation vof the side flaps by folding them successively against the ends of the-article in such a mannery that each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flap having a triangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction, the first folder of each pair of side folders being articulated, and cam means for causing the tips of said first folders to follow a path appropriate to the natural lines of folding of the side flaps.

9. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles comprising an endless conveyor provided with spaced feeding elements adapted to forward the articles in continuous succession towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers'in timed relation to the movement` of the feeding elements in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means co-operating with the advancing movement of the articles for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and lower sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, a pair of transfer members arranged one on each side of the conveyor and adapted during their transferring motion to move, in a path parallel to that of the articles, synchronously into engagement with the rear face of each article in turn and by an accelerating motion move the article clear of its-pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into a pocket of the pocket wheelga pair of positioning flanges formed one on each transfer member and each arrangedto engage an end face of the article so as to guide it in a lateral direction, rotary end folders` in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form of a tube in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form pairs of side iiaps extending from the ends of the article, pairs of rotary side folders in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to complete the formation of the side ilaps by folding them successively against the ends of the article in such a manner that each pairv of side flaps together constitute an end flap having a triangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction, the first folder of each pair of side folders being articulated and cam means for causing the tips of said first folders to follow a path appropriate to the natural lines of folding of the side iiaps.

i0. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor consisting of a pair of endless chains connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars provided with pushers arranged to protrude through a longitudinal. slot, an articlesupporting platform extending between said chains, means .for feeding a succession of articles on to said platform in timed relationship with the movement of the pushers so that a continuous succession of articles are fed towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relationship with the movement of the pushers in a direction transverse to that of movement thereof in such a manner that each article in turn engages `a wrapper, means cooperating with the advancing article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and lower sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an .axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement there- 0f, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, a pair of transfer niembers arranged one on each side of the conveyor and adapted during their transferring motion to move, in a path parallel to that of the articles,

synchronously into engagement with the rear f ace` of each article in turn and by an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into a pocket of the pocket wheel, a pair of positioningv flanges formedone on` each transfer member and each arranged to engage an end face of the article so as to guide it in a lateral direction, rotary end folders in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article inthe form of a tube in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form pairs of side flaps extending from the ends of the article, pairs of rotary side folders in association with said pocket wheel and arranged to complete the formation of the side naps by folding them successively `.against the ends o f the article in such a manner that each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flap having a triangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction, the rst folder of each pair of side folders being articulated, and cam means for causing the tips of said first folders to follow :a path appropriate to the natural lines of folding of the side flaps.

11. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articlescomprising an endless conveyor provided with spaced feeding elements adapted to forward the articles in continuous succession towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relation to the movement of the feeding elements in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means co-operating with the advancing movement of the article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and lower sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, a pair of transfer members arranged one on each side of the conveyor and adapted to move synchronously into engagement with the rear face of each article in turn and by' an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into the pocket of the pocket wheel, and means co-operating with said pocket wheel for completing the folding of the wrapper about each article in the form of a tube and then folding extending wall portions of the tube on to the ends of the article to complete the wrapping of the article.

12. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor consisting of a pair of endless chains connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars provided with pushers arranged to protrude through a longitudinal slot in an articlesupporting platform extending between said chains, means for continuously driving said conveyor towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of articles on to said platform in timed relationship with the movement of the pushers so that a continuous succession of articles are fed towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relationship with the movement of the pushers in a direction transverse to that of movement thereof in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means co-operating with the advancing article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and llower sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive ank article from theconveyor, a pair of transfer members arranged one on each side of the conveyor and adapted to move synchronously into engagement with the rear face of each article in turn and by an accelerating motion move the article clear of its pusher and then by a decelerating motion discharge the article gently into the pocket of the pocket wheel, and means co-operating with said pocket wheel for completing the foldingof the wrapper about each article in the form of a tube :and then folding extending wall portions of the tube on to the ends of the article to complete the wrapping of the article.

13. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped arcles, comprising .an endless conveyor provided with spaced feeding elements adapted to forward the articles in continuous succession towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relation to the movement ofthe feeding elements in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the article in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means `co-operating with the advancing movement of the article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and lower sides of the article, .a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, rotary end folders in association with said pocket wheel and adapted to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form of a tube in such a manner as to press one side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form pairs of side aps extending from the en'ds of the article, and rotary side folders adapted to complete the formation of the side flaps by folding them successively against the ends of the article in such a manner that each pair of side flaps together constitute an end flap having a triangular portion extending from the article in a transverse direction.

14. Apparatus for wrapping block-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor consisting of `a pair of endless chains connected at spaced intervals by pusher bars provided with pushers arranged to protrude through a longitudinal slot in an article-supporting platform extending between said chains, means for continuously driving said conveyor towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of articles on to said platform in timed relationship with the movement ofthe `pushers so that a continuous succession of articles are fed towards the wrapping elements, means for feeding a succession of wrappers in timed relationship with themovement of the pushers in a direction transverse to that of movement thereof in such a manner that each article in turn engages a wrapper, means co-operating with the advancing article for folding the wrapper about the forward end and the upper and lower sides of the article, a pocket wheel arranged for intermittent rotation about an axis transverse to that of movement of the conveyor in timed relationship with the movement thereof, said pocket wheel being provided with a series of pockets each adapted in turn to receive an article from the conveyor, rotary end folders in association with said pocket wheel and adapted to engage the portions of the wrapper extending from the ends of the article in the form of a tube in such a manner as to press 11 one-side thereof towards its opposing side so as partially to form pairs of side flaps extending from the ends of the article, and rotary side folders adapted to complete the formation .of the side flaps by foldingfthem successively against the ends of the article in such -a manner that eaoh pair of side flaps together constitute an end Yflap having a triangular portion extending from the article in a tra-nverse direction.

JOSEPH ARTHUR GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in .the file of this patent:

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